Solar window and solar wall for cooling an environment

ABSTRACT

A window for cooling an environment including first and second panes disposed opposite from one another; a frame coupled to the first and second panes forms an air gap between the first pane, the second pane, and the frame; and first and second reflective coatings disposed on first surfaces of the first and second panes. The first surfaces face the air gap, and the reflective coatings are configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heat. The window further includes first and second antireflective coatings respectively disposed on second surfaces of the first and second panes. The second surfaces face away from the air gap, and the antireflective coatings are configured to transmit radiation into the air gap. The window further includes an adsorption-cooling systems configured to collect heat from the air gap to cool air in an environment adjacent to the second pane.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to windows and walls for buildings. More particularly the present invention relates to windows and walls configured to cool an environment adjacent to the window or the wall from heat collected by the window or by the wall.

Traditional windows for buildings have typically been single paned. These single paned windows provide a relatively low level of heat insulation between the inside of the window and the outside the window. Due to the relatively low level of heat insulation of single pane windows, double pane and triple pane windows have been developed, which provide relatively higher levels of heat insulation compared to single pane windows. U.S. Pat. No. 3,793,961 of Wild, U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,157, of Kapany, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,548 each describe windows having two panes of glass.

Subsequent to the development of double pane windows, various double pane windows were developed that included photovoltaic cells formed between the panes. The photovoltaic cells in these windows are configured to generate electricity for use away from the windows (e.g., to light a lamp) without obstructing the view through the windows and the photovoltaic cells. U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,098, of Field, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,222, of Kapany, each discuss double pane windows that have photovoltaic cells disposed therein for electricity generation.

As is well known, double pane windows have an air gap between the individual panes in which heated air tends to be trapped. Various double pane windows have been developed to vent the heated air in the air gap to the “inside” of a window (e.g., into a room in a building), for example, if the inside of the window is colder than desired. These double pane windows are also often configured to vent the heated air from inside a window (e.g., from a room in a building) to the “outside” of the window (e.g., to the space outside of a building). For example, heat may be vented from inside the window to outside of the window, if the inside of the window is warmer than desired. U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,619, of Howe, and international patent publication no. WO 2008/095502, of Arndt, each describes a double pane window configured to transfer heated air into a building, or out from a building.

While a number of double pane windows have been developed to use light for electricity generation, and for moving heated air, window designers and manufacturers continue to strive to develop new windows configured for electricity generation, heat transfer, and the like where a relatively higher percentage of received electromagnetic radiation is for usable energy generation compared to known windows.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to windows and walls for buildings. More particularly the present invention relates to window and walls configured to cool an environment adjacent to the window or the wall from heat collected by the window or the wall via an adsorption-cooling system integrally formed with the window or the wall.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a window configured to cool an environment includes first and second panes disposed opposite from one another, and a frame coupled to the first and the second panes to form an air gap between the first pane, the second pane, and the frame. The window further includes first and second reflective coatings respectively disposed on first surfaces of the first and the second panes. The first surfaces face the air gap, and the reflective coatings are configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heated air in the air gap. The window further includes first and second antireflective coatings respectively disposed on second surfaces of the first and the second panes. The second surfaces face away from the air gap, and the antireflective coatings are configured to transmit visible light and infrared radiation into the air gap. The window further includes an adsorption-cooling systems configured to collect heat from the air gap to cool air in an environment adjacent to the second pane.

According to one specific embodiment of the window, the adsorption-cooling system includes an adsorption-desorption chamber configured to house an adsorption unit, a condenser, and a heat-exchanger unit. The adsorption unit is configured to adsorb a refrigerant in gas form in the adsorption-desorption chamber to cool the heat-exchanger unit, which is configured to be at least partially submerged in the refrigerant in liquid form, to cool the environment. The adsorption unit includes a pipe and an adsorbent coupled to the pipe, an ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the pipe to cool the adsorbent to effect adsorption of the refrigerant in gas form and enhance evaporation of the refrigerant into gas to cool the heat exchanger unit, and the cooled heat exchanger unit is configured to cool the environment. If the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured not to flow in the pipe, then a heated heat-transfer fluid heated in the air gap is configured to flow in the pipe to heat the adsorbent to effect desorption of the refrigerant into gas form. If the heated heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the pipe, then the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the condenser to condensate the refrigerant from gas from into liquid form.

According to another specific embodiment of the window, the window further includes an electrical generator disposed in the air gap to convert electromagnetic radiation to electricity. The adsorption-cooling system further includes a set of pumps configured to pump the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid, the heated heat-transfer fluid, and a heat-transfer fluid in the heat-exchanger unit. The electrical generator is coupled to the set of pumps to provide power to the set of pumps to drive the set of pumps.

According to another specific embodiment of the window, the heat exchanger unit includes a radiator configured to adsorb heat from the environment to cool the environment. The window may further include a circuit configured to control the operation of the set of pumps.

According to another specific embodiment of the window, the electrical generator includes a set of photovoltaic panels. The window may include a set of louvers in the air gap, wherein the set of photovoltaic panels is coupled to the set of louvers. The louvers in the set of louvers may be octagonal.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a window configured to cool an environment includes first and second panes disposed opposite from one another, and a frame coupled to the first and the second panes to form an air gap between the first pane, the second pane, and the frame. The window includes first and second reflective coatings respectively disposed on first surfaces of the first and second panes. The first surfaces face the air gap, and the reflective coatings are configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heated air in the air gap. The window further includes first and second antireflective coatings respectively disposed on second surfaces of the first and the second panes. The second surfaces face away from the air gap, and the antireflective coatings are configured to transmit visible light and infrared radiation into the air gap. The window further includes an adsorption-cooling systems configured to collect heat from the air gap to cool air in an environment adjacent to the second pane, wherein the adsorption-cooling system includes a first adsorption-desorption chamber and a second adsorption-desorption chamber, and the first and the second adsorption-desorption chambers are configured to operate a cooling cycle temporally out of phase with each another.

According to a specific embodiment, the window further includes a heat-collection unit configured to collect heat from the air gap and transfer the heat to a heat-transfer fluid in the heat collection unit for use by the first and the second adsorption-desorption chambers to cool the environment. The first adsorption-desorption chamber includes a first adsorption unit, a first condenser, and a first heat-exchanger unit, and the second adsorption-desorption chamber includes a second adsorption unit, a second condenser, and a second heat-exchanger unit. The adsorption-cooling systems include a radiator coupled to the first and the second heat-exchanger units. The first adsorption unit is configured to adsorb a refrigerant in gas form in the first adsorption-desorption chamber to cool the first heat-exchanger unit to cool the environment, and wherein the second adsorption unit is configured to adsorb a refrigerant in gas form in the second adsorption-desorption chamber to cool the second heat-exchanger unit to cool the environment.

According to a specific embodiment, the first-adsorption unit includes a first pipe and a first adsorbent coupled to the first pipe. An ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the first pipe to cool the first adsorbent to effect adsorption of the refrigerant in gas form and enhance evaporation of the refrigerant into gas to cool the first heat-exchanger unit. The first cooled heat-exchanger unit is configured to cool the environment. The second-adsorption unit includes a second pipe and a second adsorbent coupled to the second pipe. The ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the second pipe to cool the second adsorbent to effect adsorption of the refrigerant in gas form and enhance evaporation of the refrigerant into gas to cool the second heat exchanger unit. The second cooled heat exchanger unit is configured to cool the environment.

If the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured not to flow in the first pipe, then a heated heat-transfer fluid heated in the air gap is configured to flow in the first pipe to heat the first adsorbent to effect desorption of the refrigerant into gas form. If the heated heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the first pipe, then the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the first condenser to condensate the refrigerant from gas from into liquid form. If the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured not to flow in the second pipe, then a heated heat-transfer fluid heated in the air gap is configured to flow in the second pipe to heat the second adsorbent to effect desorption of the refrigerant into gas form. If the heated heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the second pipe, then the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the second condenser to condensate the refrigerant from gas from into liquid form.

According to a specific embodiment, the window further includes an electrical generator disposed in the air gap configured to convert electromagnetic radiation to electricity;

wherein the adsorption-cooling system further includes a set of pumps configured to pump the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid, the heated heat-transfer fluid, and a heat-transfer fluid in the first and the second heat-exchanger units, and wherein the electrical generator is coupled to the set of pumps to provide power to the set of pumps to drive the set of pumps. The window may further include a circuit configured to control the operation of the set of pumps. The electrical generator includes a set of photovoltaic panels, which may be mounted on a set of louvers in the air gap. The louvers may be octagonal.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a wall is configured to cool an environment adjacent to the wall and includes a pane configured to receive radiation, and a wall disposed adjacent to the pane. The wall further includes a frame coupled to the pane and the wall to form an air gap between the pane, the wall, and the frame. The wall further includes a reflective coating disposed on a first surface of the pane, wherein the first surface faces the air gap, and the reflective coating is configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heated air in the air gap. The wall further includes an antireflective coating disposed on second surfaces of the pane, wherein the second surface faces away from the air gap, and the antireflective coating is configured to transmit visible light and infrared radiation into the air gap. The wall further includes an adsorption-cooling system configured to collect heat from the air gap to cool air in an environment adjacent to the wall.

According to a specific embodiment of the wall, the adsorption-cooling system includes an adsorption-desorption chamber configured to house an adsorption unit, a condenser, and a heat-exchanger unit. The adsorption unit is configured to adsorb a refrigerant in gas form in the adsorption-desorption chamber to cool the heat-exchanger unit, which is configured to be at least partially submerged in the refrigerant in liquid form, to cool the environment. The adsorption unit includes a pipe and an adsorbent coupled to the pipe, an ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the pipe to cool the adsorbent to effect adsorption of the refrigerant in gas form and enhance evaporation of the refrigerant into gas to cool the heat exchanger unit, and the cooled heat exchanger unit is configured to cool the environment. If the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured not to flow in the pipe, then a heated heat-transfer fluid heated in the air gap is configured to flow in the pipe to heat the adsorbent to effect desorption of the refrigerant into gas form, and if the heated heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the pipe, then the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the condenser to condensate the refrigerant from gas from into liquid form.

According to another specific embodiment of the wall, the wall further includes an electrical generator disposed in the air gap configured to convert electromagnetic radiation to electricity; wherein the adsorption-cooling system further includes a set of pumps configured to pump the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid, the heated heat-transfer fluid, and a heat-transfer fluid in the heat-exchanger unit, and wherein the electrical generator is coupled to the set of pumps to provide power to the set of pumps to drive the set of pumps. The heat exchanger unit includes a radiator configured to adsorb heat from the environment to cool the environment. The wall may further include a circuit configured to control the operation of the set of pumps. According to one embodiment, the wall includes a window.

These and other benefits of the embodiments of the present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from further review of the following specification and attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view of a window according to an embodiment of the present invention where the window is configured to cool an environment adjacent to the window;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of a window according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a window according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of a wall according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a simplified perspective view of a louver having a plurality of photovoltaic panels formed therein according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a simplified side view of a set of louvers according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3C-3F are simplified schematics of various shaped inserts that may be inserted in the air gap onto which photovoltaic panels may be attached;

FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic of the window and shows an overview of the cooling operation of the window to cool an environment adjacent to the window;

FIG. 5 is a simplified schematic of an adsorption-cooling system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a high-level flow diagram of a cooling method of the adsorption-cooling system of the window; and

FIG. 7 is a simplified schematic of a cooling system that includes set of windows configured to cool an environment adjacent to the window.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides a window. More particularly embodiments of the present invention provide a window configured to cool an environment adjacent to the window from heat collected by the window.

FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view of a window 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Window 100 may be a multiple-pane window according to one embodiment of the present invention. A multiple-pane window as referred to herein includes two or more panes. According to one embodiment of the present invention, window 100 is configured to cool a space on the “inside” of the window, for example, if the inside of the window is warmer than desired. The “inside” of the window, as referred to herein, includes a room or the like in a building in which the window is installed. The term “interior” of the window, as referred to herein, includes portions of the window itself, such as the interior space between the panes of the window, or an interior space in the window's frame 105.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, window 100 includes an adsorption-cooling system 110 that is configured to perform the cooling function of window 100. Adsorption-cooling system 110 is configured to use “heated” water generated by window 100 to drive the adsorption-cooling system to cool the inside of a window (i.e., a room on the inside of a building or the like). The generation of heated water by window 100 is described below in detail. While window 100 is described herein as being configured to generate heated water for use in the adsorption-cooling system, window 100 may be configured to heat other substances for use in the adsorption-cooling system that have relatively high thermal capacity and relatively high thermal conductivity, such as alcohol or the like.

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of window 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Window 100 may include a first pane 205 and a second pane 210. The panes may be glass, plastic, or the like. The first pane and the second pane may be coupled by a frame 215. Frame 215 may be composed of various materials, such as wood, plastic, vinyl, glass, composite material, or other materials and may contain the adsorption-cooling system 110. The first pane, the second pane, and the frame may be arranged to form an air gap 220, which is between the panes and the frame.

According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, an outside surface 205 a of first pane 205 and an outside surface 210 a of second pane 210 are coated with an antireflection coating 225 a. Antireflection coating 225 a may be configured to provide transmission of a relatively broad spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, such as infrared (IR) radiation, visible light, ultraviolet (UV) light, and the like.

According to a further embodiment, an inside surface 205 b of first pane 205 and an inside surface 210 b of second pane 210 are coated with an antireflection coating 225 b. Antireflection coating 225 b, similar to antireflection coating 225 a, may be configured to provide transmission of a relatively broad spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, such as infrared (IR) radiation, visible light, ultraviolet (UV) light, and the like.

According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, a reflective coating 230 is disposed on antireflection coatings 225 b on both panes 205 and 210. Alternatively, reflective coatings 230 may be disposed on the surfaces 205 b and 210 b, and antireflection coatings 225 b may be disposed on the reflective coatings. Reflective coatings 230 may be configured to reflect one or more select bandwidths of electromagnetic radiation. For example, reflective coatings 230 may be configured to reflect IR radiation. Providing for the transmission (i.e., antireflection) of electromagnetic radiation at surfaces 205 a, 205 b, 210 a, and 210 b, and for the reflection of IR radiation at surfaces 205 b and 210 b into air gap 220 provides for the collection of energy in the air gap. Thereby, the first and the second panes provide for the accumulation of heat relatively efficiently within air gap 220. Antireflection coatings 225 a and 225 b, and reflective coating 230 may include traditional dielectric layers, or may include other materials, such as relatively thin polymer (e.g., silicone) rubber strips or sheets, which provide transparency and the desired antireflective and reflective properties, where the polymer rubber strips may also be photovoltaic. For convenience, antireflection coatings 225 a and 225 b, and reflective coatings 230, and other elements of window 100 are not drawn to scale.

Window 100 may include a set of photovoltaic panels 240 where the photovoltaic panels are disposed in air gap 220. According to one embodiment, the photovoltaic panels may be relatively thin panels. For example, the photovoltaic panels may be about 200 micrometers or less thick from front to back (e.g., from A-A). The photovoltaic panels may be configured to convert electromagnetic radiation striking the photovoltaic panels into electricity. The electricity may be configured to be directed to various electrical components inside the window (e.g., a room in a building directly adjacent to the second pane), outside the window for external use, or in the interior of the window. For example, the electricity generated by the set of photovoltaic panels 240 may be directed to a set of pumps 242 (see FIG. 1, where each pump in the set of pumps 242 is labeled with the base reference numeral 242 and an alphabetic suffix) configured to pump heated and cooled water through the set of adsorption-cooling systems.

The set of photovoltaic panels may be coupled to a set of louvers 245. The coupling may be one-to-one or one-to-many. That is, one photovoltaic panel may be coupled to one louver, or a plurality of photovoltaic panels may be coupled to one louver. The louvers may be formed of a variety of materials, such as plastic, wood, glass, composite material, or the like. The set of photovoltaic panels may be mechanically coupled to the louvers, chemically coupled to the louvers (e.g., glued, epoxied, etc.), or the like. The photovoltaic panels may be coupled to the louvers at a fixed position or may be configured to be rotatable with respect to the louvers. Those of skill in the art will know how to couple the photovoltaic panels to the louvers so that the photovoltaic panels may be rotatable with respect to the louvers. Antireflection coatings 225 a and 225 b provide that a relatively high percentage of received electromagnetic radiation (as compared to known windows) is transmitted through the panes to the photovoltaic panels for relatively high electricity generation rates. Window 100 may include any of the window features of the windows described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/563,052, filed Sep. 18, 2009, titled “Solar Window Apparatus and Method,” of Narinder Singh Kapany and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/720,982, filed Mar. 10, 2010, of titled “Solar Window Component,” of Narinder Singh Kapany, both of which is incorporated by reference herein in their entireties for all purposes.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a window 100′ according to one embodiments of the present invention. Window 100′ is substantially similar to window 100 and is configured to perform the same cooling operation as window 100 described herein. Window 100′ differs from window 100 described above in that window 100′ includes a third pane 280 disposed adjacent to second pane and may cover the frame. Third pane 212 may be configured to inhibit heat from the entering inside the window and may inhibit burns to a person touching the window or frame from heat build up therein. The third pane may be shaped (e.g., to include apertures formed therein) to allow air to pass through various openings and air vents described above with respect to the description of window 100.

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of a wall 101 according to some embodiments of the present invention. Wall 101 is configured to cool the inside of the wall (i.e., a room in a building on which wall 101 is mounted) similarly to windows 100 and 100′ described above. Wall 101 differs from windows 100 and 100′ described above in that wall 101 includes a back wall 285 configured to be coupled to a wall of a building 287. Wall 101 may include a number of sets of pipes 295 for collecting heat in air gap 220. The sets of pipes may be disposed in various places in air gap 220, such as on back wall 285, suspended in the air gap, disposed on first pane 205, etc. According to some embodiment, wall 101 includes a window formed therein, such as window 100 or window 100′ described above. An aperture may be formed in wall 101 for receiving a window.

FIG. 3A is a simplified perspective view of a louver 245 a having a plurality of photovoltaic panels 240 a formed therein according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. While louver 245 a is shown as including a plurality of photovoltaic panels therein, the louver may alternatively include a single photovoltaic panel. According to one embodiment, each photovoltaic panel is backed with an absorption coating 247. The absorption coatings are configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation passing through the photovoltaic panel and convert the absorbed electromagnetic radiation to heat in the air gap.

According to one embodiment, the louvers may be configured to be rotated to provide optimal expose of the photovoltaic panels to electromagnetic radiation striking these photovoltaic panels. Optimal exposure includes a position at which the photovoltaic panels generate a substantial maximum power output for electromagnetic radiation received by the photovoltaic panels. For example, a position at which the louvers are oriented for optical expose to electromagnetic radiation is often ninety degrees. That is, the incoming electromagnetic radiation strikes the photovoltaic panel at ninety degrees. The louvers may be configured to be manually rotated by a user, or rotated automatically by one or more motor or the like (not shown). The window may include a detector circuit configured to determine if the photovoltaic panels are optimally positioned with respect to the electromagnetic radiation, and to control the one or motor to adjust the angle of the louvers until the photovoltaic panels are optimally oriented.

FIG. 3B is a simplified side view of a set of louvers 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Each louver has an octagonal shape where photovoltaic panels 305 are disposed on a first angled surface 310 and a second angled surface 320. The octagonal louvers may be vertically oriented in window 100 or horizontally oriented in the window. According to a set of alternative embodiments, various shaped inserts may be in air gap 220 in window 100 onto which photovoltaic panels may be attached. FIGS. 3C-3F are simplified schematics of various shaped inserts that may be inserted in air gap 220 onto which the photovoltaic panels may be attached. The various insert shape may include octagonal shaped grids, hexagonal shaped grids, square grids, rectangular grinds, etc.

According to one embodiment, window 100 has a first opening 250 formed therein at a bottom portion, and has a second opening 255 formed therein at a top portion. First opening 250 may be between air gap 220 and the inside of the window. That is, the first opening may be toward a room in a building. Second opening 255 may be between air gap 220 and the inside of the window and/or the outside of the window. That is, the second opening may be toward a room in a building and/or to the outside of a building.

According to one embodiment, window 100 may include a first shutter 260 a and/or a second shutter 260 b that may be position at opening 255. First shutter 260 a may be positioned toward the outside of the window to regulate the flow of air through opening 255 to the outside of a building. Second shutter 260 b may be positioned toward the inside of the window to regulate the flow of air through opening 255 to the inside of a building. The shutters may be configured to be manually opened and closed by a human user, and/or may be configured to be opened and closed by a thermostat 265. The thermostat may be a mechanical device (such as a bimetal spring), an electronic device, an electro-mechanical device, or the like. The thermostat may be configured to be set at a given temperature at which one or both of the first and the second shutters may be opened or closed. For example, the thermostat may be configured to open a first shutter 260 a and close a second shutter 260 b if the temperature inside a room is say 75 degrees or greater. With the first shutter open, and the second shutter closed warm air is allowed to flow upward from first opening 250 from the room, and outward from second opening 255 out of the room. Thereby, heat collected in the air gap is limited from flowing into the room. This example operation of the thermostat and shutters provides that if the room becomes warmer than desired (e.g., say 75 degrees or greater), the window may vent heat from inside a room in a building to outside of the building. Alternatively, if a room is colder than desired, then first shutter 260 a may be closed by the thermostat, and second shutter 260 b may be opened by the thermostat thereby allowing warm air, which has accumulated inside the air gap, to enter the room. That is, cool air from inside a room may flow through first opening 250, warm in the air gap, and exit into the room through second opening 255.

According to another embodiment, a set of fans 270 is disposed in the air gap and/or adjacent to one or both of the openings to push air inside the air gap out through second opening 355 into the room or out from the room. The set of fans may be configured to operate in conjunction with the first and the second shutters to move air into the room or move air out from the room. The set of fans 270 may be electrically coupled to the set of photovoltaic panels to draw electricity there from for operation. The fan might alternatively be coupled to an external power source. The set of fans may be configured to power on and off under control of the thermostat. The window may include one or more filters 275 disposed in the air gap and/or in one or both of the first and the second openings to filter the air that passes into the air gap and/or out from the air gap. The filters may be configured to keep the inner surfaces of the panes clean by removing particulate matter in the air that moves through air gap 220.

According to another embodiment, window 100 includes a fluid-heating unit 290, such as a water-heating unit. While FIG. 2 shows a portion of fluid-heating unit 290 at the top of the window and the bottom of the window, other embodiments of window 100 may include only the top portion of the fluid-heating unit or may include the bottom portion of the fluid-heating unit. Fluid-heating unit 290 may be disposed in the air gap, adjacent to the air gap in frame 105 of the window, or in the air gap and adjacent to the air gap to collect the heat therein to heat a heat-transfer fluid in the fluid-heating unit 290. More specifically, heat in the air gap may heat a set of pipes 295 included in the fluid-heating unit 290 to thereby heat the heat-transfer fluid in the set of pipes. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the heat-transfer fluid is water. The set of pipes 295 may provide a substantially optimal surface area for absorbing heat into the heat-transfer fluid. The set of pipes may be colored (e.g., colored black) to absorb light for conversion to heat. The set of pipes might additionally be coated with an antireflection coating, such as antireflection coating 125 a described above, to substantially optimize the absorption of light and/or infrared radiation. The set of pipes may also be composed of a material, such as copper, having a relatively large thermal conductivity so that heat collected by the set of pipes is relatively efficiently transferred to the heat-transfer fluid.

According to one embodiment, the set of pipes 295 generate heated heat-transfer fluid for the adsorption-cooling system. According to one embodiment, pump 242 a in the set of pumps 242 is configured to pump the heat-transfer fluid through the set of pipes 295. Each pump may be a 12V DC pump. According to one alternative embodiment, water may be fed into fluid-heating unit 290 from outside the window and dispensed from window for external use.

FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic of window 100 and provides an overview of the cooling operation of window 100. FIG. 4 shows the adsorption-cooling system 110 coupled to the set of pipes 295 where the pipes carry the heat-transfer fluid from the air gap to the adsorption-cooling system and carry the heat-transfer back from the adsorption-cooling system to the air gap. The heat-transfer fluid may be pumped from the set of pipes 295 to the adsorption-cooling system via pump 242 a. According to one embodiment of the present invention, window 100 also includes an ambient-temperature fluid-storage container 400, which is configured to provide an ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid (e.g., water) to the adsorption-cooling system via a set of pipes 405 (also see FIG. 1). The pipes in the set of pipes 405 may be copper or other material having a relatively high thermal conductivity. The ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid from the ambient-temperature fluid-storage container may be pumped to the adsorption-cooling system via pump 242 b. For simplification of the current description of the overview of the cooling operation of window 100, pump 242 c is not shown in FIG. 4. Based on the alternating and repeating cycling of pumping heated heat-transfer fluid and thereafter pumping ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid in the adsorption-cooling system, the adsorption-cooling system cools the ambient-temperature air 410 in the room to provide relatively cooled air 420.

FIG. 5 is a simplified schematic of an adsorption-cooling system 110′ according to one embodiment of the present invention. The differences between adsorption-cooling system 110′ and adsorption-cooling system 110 are described below. While window 100 is described as including adsorption-cooling system 110, window 100 may alternatively include adsorption-cooling system 110′. The adsorption-cooling system is coupled to the set of pipes 295, which provides a heat-transfer fluid inlet 500 and a heat-transfer fluid outlet 505 to the adsorption-cooling system. The adsorption-cooling system is also coupled to the set of pipes 405, which provides an ambient-temperature heat-transfer-fluid inlet 510 and an ambient-temperature heat-transfer-fluid outlet 515 to the adsorption-cooling system. The adsorption-cooling system may include a first set of control valves 520 and a second set of control valves 525 configured to control the flow of heated water and ambient-temperature water through the heated water inlet, the heated water outlet, the ambient-temperature water inlet, and the ambient-temperature water outlet. The first and the second sets of control valves may be controlled by a circuit 527 to control the flow of the heated water or the ambient-temperature water through the adsorption-cooling system. Circuit 527 may include an integrated circuit configured to control the timed operation of the first and the second sets of control valves. Circuit 527 may include a programmable-integrated circuit (such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), a microcontroller, etc), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. Circuit 527 may also be configured to control the timed operations of the set of pumps 242.

Adsorption-cooling system 110′ may also include adsorption-desorption chamber 530, an adsorption unit 535, a condenser 540, and a heat-exchanger unit 545. Adsorption-cooling system 110′ differs from adsorption-cooling system 110, in that adsorption-cooling system 110 includes two adsorption-desorption chambers 530 a and 530 b, whereas adsorption-cooling system 110′ includes one adsorption-desorption chamber. The routing of the set of pipes in adsorption-cooling systems 110 and 110′ also differ. The purpose for the difference in the routing of the set of pipes will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art and is not described in detail herein. Adsorption-desorption chamber 530 is a substantially sealed chamber and forms essentially the main body of adsorption-cooling system 110′. The adsorption-desorption chamber includes at least a portion of each of the adsorption unit, the condenser, and the heat-exchanger unit. The adsorption-desorption chamber is also configured to house the refrigerant 550 for the adsorption-cooling system. The refrigerant is described herein as being water, but may be another substance or may include a mix of substances. A variety of gases (e.g., air, helium, etc.) may be housed in the adsorption-desorption chamber to regulate the vapor pressure of the refrigerant and regulate the partial pressure of the refrigerant in gaseous form to optimize the cooling, optimize efficiency, etc.

According to one embodiment, the adsorption unit 535 includes at least one pipe 535 a (e.g., a copper pipe), which is coupled to the first and the second sets of control valves for directing heated heat transfer fluid or ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid through the adsorption-desorption chamber. The adsorption unit also includes an adsorbent 535 b, which is coupled to a portion of pipe 535 a inside the adsorption-desorption chamber. Adsorbent 535 b is configured to adsorb the refrigerant and desorb the refrigerant from the atmosphere surrounding the adsorbent. The adsorbent may be any material that is configured to adsorb and desorb the refrigerant. According to one particular embodiment, adsorbent 535 b is silica gel. Silica gel, as is well known in the art, is configured to adsorb water (an example refrigerant) from a surrounding atmosphere at temperatures up to 200° F. at one atmosphere of pressure and is configured to desorb water at a higher temperature at one atmosphere of pressure. The temperature range for water adsorption and desorption of silica gel may be varied by varying the local atmospheric pressure in the adsorption-desorption chamber. Heated heat-transfer fluid passing through pipe 535 a is configured to transfer heat to adsorbent 535 b to effect desorption of the refrigerant by the adsorbent. Ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid passing through pipe 535 a is configured to absorb heat from adsorbent 535 b to effect adsorption of the refrigerant by the adsorbent. Condenser 540 may be a coil or other useful shape.

According to one embodiment, heat-exchanger unit 545 includes a pipe 545 a (e.g., a copper pipe), which includes a coil portion 545 b (“coil”) that is disposed inside the adsorption-desorption chamber. Heat-exchanger unit 545 also includes a radiator 545 c (sometimes referred to as a heat exchanger), which is disposed outside of the adsorption-desorption chamber. The heat exchange unit is disposed inside the window (e.g., in a room of a building) to cool the inside of the window. Radiator 545 c may be disposed on a surface of frame 105 of window 100 where the surface of the frame and the radiator face the inside of the window. Coil 545 b is configured to be partially disposed in refrigerant 535 b with a top portion 545 d of the coil above the refrigerant level 535 c.

FIG. 6 is a high-level flow diagram of a cooling method of the adsorption-cooling system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The high-level flow diagram is exemplary and is not limiting on the claims. Those of skill in the art will understand that steps in the high-level flow diagram may be combined and/or added without deviating from the purview and the scope of the cooling method. Moreover, the ordering of the steps shown in the high-level flow diagram may also be reordered without deviating from the purview and the scope of the cooling method. The reordering of steps will be very well understood by those of skill in the art as cooling methods generally may be described in a variety of orders. At a step 600, radiation (e.g., light, infrared radiation, etc.) striking the window is substantially optimally transmitted into air gap 220 through first pane 205 and maintained in the air gap by second pane 210 as described above. The light entering the air gap is collected by the photovoltaic panels to generate electricity and is collected in air gap to generate heat to the heat transfer fluid in fluid-heading unit 290 and more specifically in the set of pipes 295. At a step 605, the first and the second sets of control valves and pump 242 b are set by circuit 527 to direct the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid through the adsorption unit, and more specifically through pipe 535 a. At a step 610, the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid in pipe 535 a cools adsorbent 535 b to effect adsorption of the refrigerant (e.g., water) into the adsorbent. That is, the adsorbent adsorbs the refrigerant from the air, which is inside adsorption-desorption chamber 530, if the adsorbent is cooled by the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid. Adsorption of the refrigerant (e.g., water) by the adsorbent dries the air in the adsorption-desorption chamber and thereby causes refrigerant in liquid form (e.g., liquid water) in the bottom of the adsorption-desorption chamber to evaporate. Evaporation of the refrigerant from liquid form cools the heat-transfer fluid in the heat-exchanger unit. At a step 615, the heat-transfer fluid in the heat-exchanger unit that has been cooled in coil 545 b is pumped from coil 545 b to the portion of pipe 545 a that contacts the radiator. At a step 620, pipe 545 a and the heat transfer fluid in the heat-exchanger unit are configured to adsorb heat from radiator 545 c to cool the radiator and thereby cool the atmosphere surrounding the radiator (i.e., the inside of the window). Steps 650-620 are generally referred to as the cooling cycle.

At a step 625, the first and the second sets of control valves and pump 242 b (and pump 242 c according to some embodiments) are set by circuit 527 to direct the heated heat-transfer fluid from pipe 295 into the adsorption unit, and direct ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid from pipe 405 into the condenser. The heated heat-transfer fluid in adsorption unit 535 heats adsorbent 535 b causing the adsorbent to desorb the refrigerant adsorbed therein in steps 605 and 610. The desorbed refrigerant is released into the adsorption-desorption chamber as gaseous refrigerant (e.g., water vapor). At a step 630, the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid in the condenser cools and condenses the gaseous refrigerant back into liquid form, which accumulates at the bottom of the adsorption-desorption chamber. Steps 625-630 are generally referred to as the condensation cycle.

According to one embodiment, during the condensation cycle pump 242 d is configured to stop pumping heat-transfer fluid through heat-exchanger unit 545. According to an alternative embodiment, a first temperature gauge 700 may be disposed in the refrigerant to measure the temperature of the refrigerant, and a second temperature gauge 705 may be disposed inside the window to measure the temperature inside the window (e.g., a room in a building). Circuit 527 may be configured to monitor the output from the first and the second temperature gauges and compare the temperatures. If the temperature inside the window remains higher than the refrigerant during the condensation cycle, circuit 527 may be configured to continue to pump heat-transfer through the heat exchanger. Alternatively, if the temperature inside the window is same as, or lower than, the temperature of the refrigerant during the condensation cycle, circuit 527 may be configured to stop pump 242 d from pumping heat-transfer fluid through the heat exchanger. According to a further embodiment, temperature gauge 705 may be included in a thermostat 710, which may be set by a user for turning on and off the adsorption-cooling system at specified temperatures. Circuit 527 may operate in conjunction with the thermostat to control the adsorption-cooling system as will be well understood by those of skill in the art. Steps 600-630 are typically repeated a number of times to cool the inside of a window.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, if a window 100 includes two or more adsorption-desorption chambers 530 a and 530 b, the adsorption-desorption chambers may be configured to operate “out” of synchronization to provide a substantially continuous cooling inside the window. That is, the cooling cycle of the first adsorption-desorption chamber 530 a may take place while the condensing cycle is taking place in the second adsorption-desorption chamber 530 b. Further, the condensation cycle in the first adsorption-desorption chamber may take place while cooling cycling is taking place in the second adsorption-desorption chamber.

FIG. 7 is a simplified schematic of a cooling system 700 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Cooling system 700 includes a set of windows 705. Each window in the set of windows is labeled with the base reference numeral 705 and an alphabetic suffix. According to one embodiment, the fluid-heating units 290 of the set of windows are coupled together to generate heated water that is fed to a set of adsorption-cooling systems 110 that might be in one of the windows (e.g., window 705 n), might be external to the set of windows, or might be distributed in the set of windows.

The foregoing description is not limiting on the claims and variations, which are included in the instant application, will be apparent to those of skill in the art. For example, each of the methods described above for window 100 and 100′ may apply to wall 101. Therefore, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims and that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A window configured to cool an environment adjacent to the window comprising: first and second panes disposed opposite from one another; a frame coupled to the first and the second panes to form an air gap between the first pane, the second pane, and the frame; first and second reflective coatings respectively disposed on first surfaces of the first and the second panes, wherein the first surfaces face the air gap, and the reflective coatings are configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heated air in the air gap; first and second antireflective coatings respectively disposed on second surfaces of the first and the second panes, wherein the second surfaces face away from the air gap, and the antireflective coatings are configured to transmit visible light and infrared radiation into the air gap; and an adsorption-cooling system configured to collect heat from the air gap to cool air in an environment adjacent to the second pane.
 2. The window of claim 1, wherein the adsorption-cooling system includes an adsorption-desorption chamber configured to house an adsorption unit, a condenser, and a heat-exchanger unit.
 3. The window of claim 2, wherein the adsorption unit is configured to adsorb a refrigerant in gas form in the adsorption-desorption chamber to cool the heat-exchanger unit, which is configured to be at least partially submerged in the refrigerant in liquid form, to cool the environment.
 4. The window of claim 3, wherein: the adsorption unit includes a pipe and an adsorbent coupled to the pipe, an ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the pipe to cool the adsorbent to effect adsorption of the refrigerant in gas form and enhance evaporation of the refrigerant into gas to cool the heat exchanger unit, and the cooled heat exchanger unit is configured to cool the environment.
 5. The window of claim 4, wherein: if the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured not to flow in the pipe, then a heated heat-transfer fluid heated in the air gap is configured to flow in the pipe to heat the adsorbent to effect desorption of the refrigerant into gas form, and if the heated heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the pipe, then the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the condenser to condensate the refrigerant from gas from into liquid form.
 6. The window of claim 5, further comprising: an electrical generator disposed in the air gap configured to convert electromagnetic radiation to electricity; wherein the adsorption-cooling system further includes a set of pumps configured to pump the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid, the heated heat-transfer fluid, and a heat-transfer fluid in the heat-exchanger unit, and wherein the electrical generator is coupled to the set of pumps to provide power to the set of pumps to drive the set of pumps.
 7. The window of claim 6, wherein the heat exchanger unit includes a radiator configured to adsorb heat from the environment to cool the environment.
 8. The window of claim 6, further comprising a circuit configured to control the operation of the set of pumps.
 9. The window of claim 6, wherein the electrical generator includes a set of photovoltaic panels
 10. The window of claim 9, further comprising a set of louvers in the air gap, wherein the set of photovoltaic panels is coupled to the set of louvers.
 11. The window of claim 10, wherein the louvers in the set of louvers are octagonal.
 12. A window configured to cool an environment adjacent to the window comprising: first and second panes disposed opposite from one another; a frame coupled to the first and the second panes to form an air gap between the first pane, the second pane, and the frame; first and second reflective coatings respectively disposed on first surfaces of the first and the second panes, wherein the first surfaces face the air gap, and the reflective coatings are configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heated air in the air gap; first and second antireflective coatings respectively disposed on second surfaces of the first and the second panes, wherein the second surfaces face away from the air gap, and the antireflective coatings are configured to transmit visible light and infrared radiation into the air gap; and an adsorption-cooling system configured to collect heat from the air gap to cool air in an environment adjacent to the second pane, wherein the adsorption-cooling system includes a first adsorption-desorption chamber and a second adsorption-desorption chamber, and the first and the second adsorption-desorption chambers are configured to operate a cooling cycle temporally out of phase with each another.
 13. The window of claim 12, further comprising a heat-collection unit configured to collect heat from the air gap and transfer the heat to a heat-transfer fluid in the heat collection unit for use by the first and the second adsorption-desorption chambers to cool the environment.
 14. The window of claim 12, wherein the first adsorption-desorption chamber includes a first adsorption unit, a first condenser, and a first heat-exchanger unit, and the second adsorption-desorption chamber includes a second adsorption unit, a second condenser, and a second heat-exchanger unit.
 15. The window of claim 14, wherein the adsorption-cooling systems include a radiator coupled to the first and the second heat-exchanger units.
 16. The window of claim 14, wherein the first adsorption unit is configured to adsorb a refrigerant in gas form in the first adsorption-desorption chamber to cool the first heat-exchanger unit to cool the environment, and wherein the second adsorption unit is configured to adsorb a refrigerant in gas form in the second adsorption-desorption chamber to cool the second heat-exchanger unit to cool the environment.
 17. The window of claim 16, wherein: the first-adsorption unit includes a first pipe and a first adsorbent coupled to the first pipe, an ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the first pipe to cool the first adsorbent to effect adsorption of the refrigerant in gas form and enhance evaporation of the refrigerant into gas to cool the first heat-exchanger unit, the first cooled heat-exchanger unit is configured to cool the environment, and wherein: the second-adsorption unit includes a second pipe and a second adsorbent coupled to the second pipe, the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the second pipe to cool the second adsorbent to effect adsorption of the refrigerant in gas form and enhance evaporation of the refrigerant into gas to cool the second heat exchanger unit, the second cooled heat-exchanger unit is configured to cool the environment.
 18. The window of claim 17, wherein: if the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured not to flow in the first pipe, then a heated heat-transfer fluid heated in the air gap is configured to flow in the first pipe to heat the first adsorbent to effect desorption of the refrigerant into gas form, if the heated heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the first pipe, then the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the first condenser to condensate the refrigerant from gas from into liquid form, and wherein: if the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured not to flow in the second pipe, then a heated heat-transfer fluid heated in the air gap is configured to flow in the second pipe to heat the second adsorbent to effect desorption of the refrigerant into gas form, and if the heated heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the second pipe, then the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the second condenser to condensate the refrigerant from gas from into liquid form.
 19. The window of claim 14, further comprising: an electrical generator disposed in the air gap configured to convert electromagnetic radiation to electricity; wherein the adsorption-cooling system further includes a set of pumps configured to pump the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid, the heated heat-transfer fluid, and a heat-transfer fluid in the first and the second heat-exchanger units, and wherein the electrical generator is coupled to the set of pumps to provide power to the set of pumps to drive the set of pumps.
 20. The window of claim 19, further comprising a circuit configured to control the operation of the set of pumps.
 21. The window of claim 19, wherein the electrical generator includes a set of photovoltaic panels
 22. The window of claim 19, further comprising a set of louvers in the air gap, wherein the set of photovoltaic panels is coupled to the set of louvers.
 23. The window of claim 22, wherein the louvers in the set of louvers are octagonal.
 24. A wall configured to cool an environment adjacent to the wall comprising: a pane configured to receive radiation; a wall disposed adjacent to the pane; a frame coupled to the pane and the wall to form an air gap between the pane, the wall, and the frame; a reflective coating disposed on a first surface of the pane, wherein the first surface faces the air gap, and the reflective coating is configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heated air in the air gap; an antireflective coating disposed on second surfaces of the pane, wherein the second surface faces away from the air gap, and the antireflective coating is configured to transmit visible light and infrared radiation into the air gap; and an adsorption-cooling system configured to collect heat from the air gap to cool air in an environment adjacent to the wall.
 25. The wall of claim 24, wherein the adsorption-cooling system includes an adsorption-desorption chamber configured to house an adsorption unit, a condenser, and a heat-exchanger unit.
 26. The wall of claim 25, wherein the adsorption unit is configured to adsorb a refrigerant in gas form in the adsorption-desorption chamber to cool the heat-exchanger unit, which is configured to be at least partially submerged in the refrigerant in liquid form, to cool the environment.
 27. The wall of claim 26, wherein: the adsorption unit includes a pipe and an adsorbent coupled to the pipe, an ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the pipe to cool the adsorbent to effect adsorption of the refrigerant in gas form and enhance evaporation of the refrigerant into gas to cool the heat exchanger unit, and the cooled heat exchanger unit is configured to cool the environment.
 28. The wall of claim 27, wherein: if the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured not to flow in the pipe, then a heated heat-transfer fluid heated in the air gap is configured to flow in the pipe to heat the adsorbent to effect desorption of the refrigerant into gas form, and if the heated heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the pipe, then the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the condenser to condensate the refrigerant from gas from into liquid form.
 29. The wall of claim 28, further comprising: an electrical generator disposed in the air gap configured to convert electromagnetic radiation to electricity; wherein the adsorption-cooling system further includes a set of pumps configured to pump the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid, the heated heat-transfer fluid, and a heat-transfer fluid in the heat-exchanger unit, and wherein the electrical generator is coupled to the set of pumps to provide power to the set of pumps to drive the set of pumps.
 30. The wall of claim 29, wherein the heat exchanger unit includes a radiator configured to adsorb heat from the environment to cool the environment.
 31. The wall of claim 29, further comprising a circuit configured to control the operation of the set of pumps.
 32. The wall of claim 24, further comprising a window. 